Garmin Oregon 400t review | Introduction

Garmin Oregon review

G
armin's slogan seems crystal clear: 'Limitation shows the master." When I open the Garmin Oregon retail box, I can see a screen with solid plastic edges, with only one button and no antenna in sight. Since my Garmin GPSmap 60CS has many buttons and an easy-to-spot antenna, I instantly become somewhat suspicious. Furthermore, the content of the package is limited; it contains the device, a USB cable, a carabiner clip, a quick start guide and a manual in English. No batteries, no battery charger, no CD with MapSource or other manuals. In order to get started, we need to find an energy source and download software via the Garmin website.

Garmin Oregon 400t GPS receiver

Appearance of the Garmin 400t GPS handheld

The Oregon seems small once it lies in my hand. However, this is optical deception, as the device is in fact wider than the GPSmap 60 series, while the screen, the most important part, is larger. When it comes to its possibilities, the device is quite similar to the Colorado 300 which we reviewed previously. The dimensions of the two devices are almost similar. We are dealing with a device that again is very portable and looks quite solid. It is a nicely curved device that is easy to carry around in your chest pocket. If you don’t have any pockets, the belt clip is a good solution. The monitor does not shine but is matte, which obviously makes it less fingerprint-prone.

Garmin Oregon 400t review

Touch screen on the Garmin Oregon 400t

We are familiar with touch screens through PDAs, mobile phones and so on, and now it is also being used on Garmin GPS handhelds. Pressing the screen slightly activates it. The Oregon 400t responds to movements of your fingers. Dragging the image happens with a fluent stroke of the finger. Pressing buttons is done by keeping your finger on one spot. The difference between these two actions is hard to feel in the beginning. If you slowly drag a map, sometimes a waypoint is accidentally placed. Luckily, the screen displays many arrows with which you can also shift the screen, which prevents you from accidentally pressing a button.